We know you are here to learn how to write a manifesto and have done due diligence given every single piece of information you need in this article.
We normally hear of Manifesto but the truth is few people understand what it means not to talk about how it’s written. In this article, we are going to share with you every single thing you need to know about manifesto writing.
We have also provided the importance that a good manifesto can do for a campaign and a sample copy of the manifesto to serve as a guide.
What is Manifesto?Â
A manifesto is a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of a political party or candidate. Manifesto normally highlights what the group seek to achieve when they are allowed to serve. A manifesto when written and delivered well can be of importance to the candidate or the party.
Before we get to how to write it, let’s look at the importance of a manifesto and how it can be carved for your political gains.
Importance of Manifesto
A good manifesto comes with a lot of benefits to the candidate and the political party. Below are some importance of good manifestos.
Sets ideological direction
One of the reasons why a party manifesto is important is that it is able to determine a clear ideological direction for the party. It indicates whether the party is a Social Democratic Party, a capitalist-oriented party, a purely socialist party or any other ideological direction that it may choose.
Educates the people
Another importance of a party manifesto is that it helps to educate the electorates. In order to advance the reasons for the choice of the party’s policy direction, the party might have to give a background to the particular problems that the country is facing in that particular area.
By providing this background before spelling out its plans on how to resolve the problems, the political party, through its manifesto, enlightens the people on the peculiar problems of the country and how they can be dealt with.
As a measurement tool
Another importance of a party manifesto is that it can be used as a tool to measure the success or otherwise of the party when it comes into power. This is so because, the party sets out its plans in the manifesto, so the electorates know what to expect from the party when it gains political power.
The people are therefore able to determine whether the party has been able to fulfil its political promises or not, and to what extent it has done so.
Gives the programme direction to the party
Also, the party manifesto helps to give direction to the party’s programmes. The party manifesto is able to give a broad policy direction that the party hopes to chart when it is voted into power. For example, the manifesto tells how the party hopes to deal with inflation, export crop production or how lure investors into a particular area of the economy.
Attracts people to the party
The political party manifesto is also important in the sense that it helps to attract people to the party. A political party activity is a game of numbers. The more people a party has, the more likely it is that such members would vote for it. The electorates are attracted to programmes and policies of the party and that is why the parties try to have a manifesto.
Spells out the aims and objectives of the party
Another reason why a political party manifesto is important is that the people become aware of the aims and objectives of the party. The aims and objectives of the party are clearly spelt out in the manifesto for public consumption.
How To Write A Manifesto
Below are some important things to note when writing manifestos;
1. Be concise.
People naturally like manifestos that are concise and point straight to issues. Don’t bore your audience with unnecessary speeches and grammar.
Your manifesto should be a brief, snappy set of principles and calls to action, rather than an unabridged and exhaustive report of every reason you believe what you do. Choose a manifesto from a historical personage you admire, and use the first few paragraphs as a set of example sentences to compare yours against.
Consider election manifestos, for instance. These documents are often heavier on slogans than they are on substance—they briefly state a party’s principles in the interest of inspiring change (in this case, persuading leaders to vote for the party).
2. Catch the reader’s interest.
It is important to catch the attention of your audience. Throughout the writing process, do your best to make your manifesto as engaging as possible. Use alliteration, figurative language, and interesting analogies you’re able to derive from your own experiences.
If you need a stronger word for something you’re trying to say, crack open a thesaurus and make an alternative word list. Contemplate and then decide on the one you think drives home your point the best. People pay attention to things they can easily relate to, so this is very important.
3. Choose your audience.
Different manifestos suit different audiences. Policies are drawn from problems that you have recognized and want to change. This is why it is very important to get to the grounds to know exactly what the challenges are.
Once you do that, you are able to speak to issues that will surely enhance your chances.
These works address separate intended audiences. When it comes to your manifesto, ask yourself for whom you’re primarily writing it.
4. Decide on core values.
Brainstorm some main points you hope to get across in your manifesto. You can even write these as simple bullet points at first before revising them into more eloquent verbiage.
Every manifesto should have a simple principle—or set of principles—to espouse. As an example, the purpose of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’ The Communist Manifesto was to persuade the world communism would be a more effective economic and social system than capitalism. From this central premise, the authors derived all their other arguments and points.
5. Map out a plan of action.
Your manifesto needs to feature a call to action rather than just a set of beliefs. As its issuer, you must hope to persuade its audience to make changes because of your arguments. Provide people with guidelines as to how they can bring about the changes you seek.
People are naturally in love with leaders who walk the talk. Sometimes, you don’t need to win before you start an initiative. If you have the strength and urge to start something, do. This clearly communicates to the people that you can do it.
6. Revise your work.
Proofreading is as essential to writing a manifesto as it is to any other form of essay. Odds are, you should rework your first rough draft at least a few times. Consider the fact that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) revised its manifesto and added a partial free tertiary education for Ghanaians.
This is premised on so many factors, but the key issue to note is that things change, so timings can even influence that revision. Go ahead and revise your manifesto if there are outdated policies that can be replaced with pressing issues.
Sample Copy of A Manifesto WrittenÂ
Manifesto Sample
This is the manifesto document that contains the policies and procedures that we would revise and implement together with my colleague executive when given the nod as the next CoHSS president. The following policies are outlined in order of preference;
- The CoHSS Scholarship Fund.
There seem to be many scholarship funds in the university but the number of students who were found owing school fees at the just recent exercise done by the university managers on school fees defaulters was astonishing. It had to take corporate entities, individuals, student associations, and the government to salvage the situation.
This initiative seeks to establish a scholarship fund that would continue to quickly respond to students in that regard. We seek to solicit funds from a number of the above-mentioned entities to sponsor this project. A board of competent trustees which shall be made of both senior members and junior members shall be constituted to execute and manage the fund.
- Cohsstrenuership And Business Fund.
One of the paramount issues we have come across is how student entrepreneurs get access to funding. We must nurse these promising ideas to our colleagues to promote innovation and ingenuity. A revelation from the recent school fees issue in KNUST was that some students invested their school fees into what they considered to be viable ventures.
This policy seeks to promote entrepreneurship by organizing business challenges in the college, where deserving entrepreneurs will be dully supported with an appreciable amount of funds. Again, the investment would organize to bring interested students and industry players, investors together.
- One Faculty, One Project.
There are three faculties within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; the social sciences, law and school of business, respectfully. We look forward to partnering with the faculties to undertake a project for each faculty.
A committee will be set to identify a specific need of each faculty that would need assistance in the college because of the diversity in our needs. With such a policy, the uncompleted learning area started by SOSIOSO at their new block could be expanded and completed for use.
- Capacity Building Program.
The contemporary needs of our dispensation require that the average university student is equipped with the requisite skills and experience to meet the job market. The policy seeks to secure internship slots and industry mentors who shall interact with mentees from time to time. This is to bridge the gap between the classroom and the corporate world.
Conclusion
Writing a good manifesto comes with a lot of benefits. By following our guide above, we are sure that you will be able to write a manifesto that people will love.
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